Deena Whitwam, right, films E.P. Rock Elementary School student Isaias Sanchez at the school in Hudson, Wis. in March 2014, as part of the "Rockin' Reads" video series she developed. Whitwam, a 17-year-old junior at Hudson High School, has shot nearly 200 of the videos, in which students discuss their favorite books. The videos are played following the elementary school's morning announcements and are credited with helping inspire students to read. (photo courtesy of Kelly Curtis)

Deena Whitwam, right, films E.P. Rock Elementary School student Blake Buccholz at the school in Hudson, Wis. on Friday, April 4, 2014, as part of the "Rockin' Reads" video series she developed. Whitwam, a 17-year-old junior at Hudson High School, has shot nearly 200 of the videos, in which students discuss their favorite books. The videos are played following the elementary school's morning announcements and are credited with helping inspire students to read. (photo courtesy of Kelly Curtis)

Along with track, the student council, drama and other extracurricular activities, the Hudson High School junior has taken on an innovative video project to promote reading among elementary school students.

In her freshman year, Whitwam developed “Rockin’ Reads,” a program in which she films students at E.P. Rock Elementary School in Hudson talking about their favorite books. The videos — she’s made nearly 200 — are then played in classrooms throughout the school following morning announcements.

“The video is the highlight of the morning, at least in my classroom,” said Deanne Swanson, a fourth-grade teacher. “I feel like it’s creating a sense of community in our school, a community of readers that I’m not sure you get in other elementary schools.”

Whitwam got the idea three years ago. She was volunteering at the elementary school, where her mother is a school counselor, when she learned the school district was looking for ways to get students interested in reading.

She was excited about her iPad at the time, she said, and thought up the idea of using it to record students giving testimonials about their favorite books.

“I know technology is really kind of a movement in schools right now and where education is going,” Whitwam said. “It seemed like the right idea.”

Once he or she has finished with a book, a student can fill out a form that later will be used as a script when the student gets in front of the camera — now Whitwam’s iPhone.

Whenever she might have some time, she’ll rush over to the elementary school and shoot a series of the videos, which generally are played a few times a week and never repeated.

“Deena does everything on her own,” said Whitwam’s mom, Kelly Curtis. “She’s streamlined it over the years and has made it really engaging, entertaining and popular.”

Whitwam said she didn’t know much about shooting and editing video when she started Rockin’ Reads but now feels like a capable filmmaker. She plans to continue with the project through her senior year and wants the school to continue with the videos after she graduates.

“With the support of the staff — they’ve been so helpful to me — I think we’ll be able to continue it,” Whitwam said, adding she hopes she’ll also be able to pass the baton to her younger brother.

It’s been a fun, creative project for her and she appreciates the opportunity for leadership it’s offered, Whitwam said, adding she likes working with the kindergarten to fifth-grade students and seeing them excited about reading.

“It gives them an opportunity to be special,” Whitwam said. “They get to be an ‘E.P. Rock star.’ ”

Whitwam is interested in going into a career involving math. She said she’s also interested in doing something relating to education that makes a difference in the world.

But if you ask Swanson, she already is.

While many of her peers might get home and go on Facebook or the phone, the 17-year-old is filming students and editing video, all in an effort to help inspire reading in kids. It’s working, said Swanson, adding that she’s seen Rockin’ Reads inspiring her students to talk about books.

“She’s really doing this for the betterment of the kids,” Swanson said. “I think that is a powerful role model for our students to see, especially today.”

The program had such an impact that Swanson assigned her class to write Whitwam thank-you letters this year.

To Swanson’s surprise, Whitwam responded to all of them.

“Deena wrote each of them a full-page letter based on their letter,” Swanson said. “I could not believe that a 17-year-old would handwrite 24 letters to students. … I guess I am always in awe of her.”

As you comment, please be respectful of other commenters and other viewpoints. Our goal with article comments is to provide a space for civil, informative and constructive conversations. We reserve the right to remove any comment we deem to be defamatory, rude, insulting to others, hateful, off-topic or reckless to the community. See our full terms of use here.

More in News

Drivers along Ayd Mill Road in St. Paul call it one of the most pockmarked roadways in town. Winter melt, age, traffic intensity, deferred maintenance and questionable construction all have taken their toll. St. Paul city officials are continually grappling with the challenge of funding road repair for a growing residential and business population. Outsiders sometimes make unfair comparisons to...

St. Paul Saints general manager Derek Sharrer's stomach was doing backflips as he watched No. 16 seed Maryland-Baltimore County beat No. 1 overall seed Virginia. The team he’s in charge of was about to be out $10,000.

A marker on the Hillcrest Golf Course proclaims the Hillcrest Knoll to be Ramsey County's highest hilltop, though folks in Arden Hills and Shoreview might dispute it. Soon, the 1920s-era golf course may have another claim to fame -- housing, and lots of it. At Larpenteur Avenue and McKnight Road on the city's Greater East Side, Hillcrest represents 112 acres...

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The hunt for the serial bomber who has been leaving deadly explosives in packages on Austin doorsteps took a new, more sinister turn Monday when investigators said the fourth and latest blast was triggered along a street by a nearly invisible tripwire.